Thiago Silva and Coutinho to Start for Brazil as Tite Confirms Line-Up

Thiago Silva will start for Brazil against Bolivia in La Paz on Thursday, Tite has confirmed. The PSG defender has returned to the squad under the current coach after being exiled by Dunga, but has not been able to break up the Miranda and Marquinhos partnership.

Tite says he will start Thiago in La Paz in order to test different partnerships ahead of next summer’s World Cup, with Brazil already qualified. Tite explained, “We have high level players. Marquinhos and Miranda have already played eight games together.

“Marquinhos and Thiago, a game and a half in the Seleção. Miranda and Thiago half a game. We have to prepare them. I do not know what's going to happen before then. That is the reason for the decision.”

Tite also confirmed that Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho will start ahead of Chelsea’s Willian, after the Blues wideman started both September qualifiers ahead of Coutinho, “The game system is similar. I have a more vertical and sharp player that attacks spaces (Willian), and a constructor (Coutinho).

“We go through situations with Coutinho that you know well and now he returns to the team. There are two very strong possibilities.”

Meanwhile, the coach, who has called up four newcomers to the squad, says there are still spaces available in the World Cup squad for new players to impress, “Actions speak for themselves.

“Summoning four newcomers shows that we are attentive for the next eight months. It is an important time to consolidate, to grow, so there is that space. It's fair competition.”